First to market with meaningful technologies and giving them to consumer's at a price that undercuts the competition.

Well, with the new 2009 FX35 and FX50 they are raising the bar again with a new features like all-around cameras (like on the EX35), Intelligent Cruise Control (Full Speed Range) and a totally unique feature to the FX's, Distance Control Assist.

And if you own or are thinking of owning a BMW, these are the features that are so HARD to walk away from when you purchase a BMW or competitor without them.

In fact, I would attest it gets under your skin that the X5 or X6 doesn't even offer these features yet and that is a hard pill to swallow, if you ask us.

Distance Control Assist (DCA)

The industry’s first Distance Control Assist (DCA), another new available feature on FX, reduces the burden of driving by intuitively helping the driver release the throttle and applying the brakes as needed in slowing traffic.

Whereas Intelligent Brake Assist is on by default, Distance Control Assist is available at the touch of a button to assist the driver in managing the distance to the vehicle traveling ahead. DCA is the first system ever to utilize the accelerator pedal to provide feedback to the driver. When approaching the preceding vehicle from behind and the distance falls below a certain threshold, DCA will signal to the driver that the throttle should be released by “pushing back” via the accelerator pedal. Initially a subtle push can be felt by the driver as a gentle reminder to maintain a more appropriate distance. If the driver continues closing in on the vehicle ahead, a more insistent double impulse from the pedal plus an audible signal will urge the driver to release the throttle immediately. Upon release of the throttle, DCA will automatically engage the brakes and decelerate the vehicle in order to reestablish a safe distance. In slowing traffic DCA will bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Also, the driver can override the system at any time by depressing the accelerator pedal.

Intelligent Cruise Control versus Distance Control Assist

The following chart compares the actions of ICC and DCA:

ICC w/FSR

DCA

For highway driving

All driving conditions

Automatically accelerates to keep up with traffic

Driver must depress accelerator to move with traffic

Will slow to a stop, but won’t maintain a stop without driver depressing the brakes

Will slow to a stop, but won’t maintain a stop without driver depressing the brakes

If driver taps brakes, must press “Resume” button to re-activate system

This is why I prefer Infiniti to Lexus, "First to market with meaningful technologies and giving them to consumer's at a price that undercuts the competition." Not to mention they're some of the industry's best luxury sports cars to drive, no undercutting there!

If Lexus priced their vehicles cheaper than the European competition like they use too, they'd have a chance at being the auto-world's largest luxury brand.

Instead they offer products that never seem to reach that benchmark status at the price of the benchmark...Great product, just inferior to the one it mimics in every way including price.

When Lexuses were cheaper than their European counterparts, people claimed that their image would never change of budget-priced knock-offs. Lexus has made it clear that they are striving for premium status for some time now. "Budget-price" and "premium status" are not mutually exclusive. Lexus can't win for losing. And quite frankly, Lexuses are worth every penny.

Another quick note for GoObama. All Infiniti product is built on the FM rear wheel drive platform. The only Nissan built on the same platform is the 350z. Nissan uses front wheel drive platforms on all of their cars and crossover vehicles. They also use the CVT transmision an all of their vehicles while Infiniti still has real transmisions. From there up Infiniti has separated their brand from the entry level Nissans. This is something the other Japanese "luxury" brands have failed to do.

Actually Acura is worse than Lexus as far as rebadging goes with their entire lineup based on Honda Product. Lexus does have a couple of vehicles based on unique platforms however the majority of their lineup and definitely the majority of their sales (ie RX) come from Toyotas with lipstick.

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